Side frames for connection with motorcycles and support of side cars and the like



y 2, 1957 J. H. ALDOUS 2,797,933

SIDE FRAMES FOR CONNECTION WITH MOTORCYCLES AND SUPPORT OF SIDE CARS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 12, 1955 73 INVENTOR James H Alduus ATTORNEY 7 y 1957 J. H. ALDOUS 2,797,933

SIDE FRAMES FOR CONNECTION WITH MOTORCYCLES AND v SUPPORT OF SIDE CARS AND THE LIKE Filed April 12, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 6 James H.A1duu5 ATTORNEL ice SIDE FRAMES FOR CONNECTION WITH MOTOR- CYCLES AND SUPPORT OF SIDE CARS AND THE LIKE James H. Aldous, Jacksonville, Fla. Application April 12, 1955, Serial No. 500,811 Claims. (Cl. 280-203) This invention relates to side frames for connection with motorcycles, and the support of side car bodies and the like, such as side vans and advertising displays.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide such frames which are light in weight, inexpensive to manufacture and capable of resisting tension and com- 2 pression strains to which such frames are subjected, not only While driving straight ahead, but also when the motorcycles with the side cars are being driven along curved highways and where turns to the left have a tendency to lift the side assemblies and relieve pressures on the supplemental side wheel tires, and turns to the right have a tendency to lower the side assemblies and increase pressure on the supplemental side wheel tires.

Another object is to provide frames of the character described which are adapted for connection with motorcycles now in use and on the present market, using some of the threaded studs and bolts available on the same, as parts of means for securing some of the elements of the side frames to the motorcycles.

A further object is to provide side frames of the character described, the parts of which are so constructed and arranged that several of the frames may be compactly stored or crated for shipment, or a single frame compactly disposed with respect to other merchandise, such as a side car or van body, shipped together in a crate or other container. This is in part accomplished by constructing the frame, so that the main structural members thereof are in the same horizontal plane, and with bracing members extending mainly in a direction toward the inner side of the frame, that is, the portion adapted for connection with the motorcycle, and above and below the main frame plane. In this way several of the frames may be stored, supported by a wall bracket, or hung from the ceiling, with the frames in juxtaposed relationship and with the planes of these main structional members substantially in parallelism.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following detailed description of a highly satisfactory embodiment of my invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and in which drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a motorcycle frame, with attaching members for the side frame secured thereto, certain of the tubular members of the latter being shown in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the new frame.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view thereof looking toward the outer side.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the new frame.

' Figs. 5 and 6 are rear and frontelevational views, respectively, thereof.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings I disclose a motorcycle body frame 10 of the type comprising a forward drop bar section 11 provided with an engine mount bracket 12 secured thereto and including a rearwardly extending upright plate 13, lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the body frame, which supports bolts 14 extending transversally of the frame for securing an engine, not shown in the drawing, to the frame; a lower reach bar 15 extending from the lower portion of the section 11; a chain stay bar section 16 of the rear reach fork, this section 16 being laterally offset to the side of the plane common to the sections 11 and 15 and having an inwardly curved juncture 17 at its forward end with the rear end portion of the lower reach bar 15, as is usual in motorcycle frame construction; a rear drop bar section 18; a rear fork section 19 joined at its upper end to the rear end of section 18 and at its lower end to the rear end of the chain stay bar section in acute angular relation thereto by a rear axle mount 20 and forming with the chain stay section 16 a rear apex portion at the side of the motorcycle body frame; and a strut 21 extending upwardly and rearwardly from a juncture 22 with the rear portion of the lower reach bar 15 to a juncture 23 with the rear end portion of drop bar section 19. The rear portion of the chain stay bar section 16 is provided with a threaded bolt 25 near the rear axle mount 20, which normally supports a muffler hanger bar 26 shown in Figs. 1 and 7. These are characteristics of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle frame, Models and to which the new side frame is attachable, using the engine mount bracket 12, the bolts 14 and 25 as parts of means for attachment. I have discovered that these elements and other characteristics of the frame are strong and durable; and the bracket 12 with its bolts 14 and the bolt 25 which are located near a horizontal plane common to the axes 27 and 28 of the front and rear wheels 29 and 30, respectively of the motorcycle, afford desirable main elements for attachment of the side frame to the motorcycle in a manner that drag of the side car will have no tendency to pull the motorcycle to one side nor interfere with the automatic return to alignment of the front wheel with the driving wheel after the latter has been turned out of such alignment in rounding a curve.

The side frame preferably comprises a main transverse axle member 31 provided with a wheel mount portion 32 including a wheel spindle or dead axle 33 at its one end, and an elongated attaching plate 34 at its other end portion and lying in a vertical plane normal to the axis of the axle member for connection with the motorcycle frame at the rear portion of its chain stay bar and rear fork sections; a forward tubular member 35, having a juncture 36 at its rear end with the axle member 31 adjacent the wheel mount portion 32 thereof and including a major portion 39, extending diagonally therefrom toward the front wheel 29 of the motorcycle frame 10, and a minor portion 37 inturned from the forward end of the major portion 39, toward, and with its axis normal to the plane of frame 10, there being an elongated attaching plate 38 at the inner end of minor portion 37, similar to plate 34 for connection with the engine mount bracket 12; a longitudinal tubular member 40 having its rear end connected to the axle member 31 at a juncture 41 in a zone nearer to plate 34 than the wheel mount portion 32, and its forward end connected to the forward tubular member 35 at a juncture 42 nearer to plate 38 than the wheel mount portion 32; a transverse strut member 44 connected at Patented July 2, 1957.

its one end to the longitudinal tubular member 40 at juncture 45 intermediate its end and extending upwardly and diagonally inward, with a clamp plate 46 at the end of this strut, opposite juncture 45, for engagement with the rear drop bar section 18 of the motorcycle frame; and a transverse tubular tension member 47 having one end portion connected with the axle member 31 adjacent the wheel mount portion 32 thereof at juncture 48, and extending downwardly and diagonally inward, with a clamp plate 49 at the end of this tension member, opposite juncture 48, for engagement with the chain stay bar section 16 of the motorcycle frame.

I also prefer to provide a vertical strut 50 having a juncture 51 at its lower portion with the tension member 47 and a juncture 52 at its upper portion with the longitudinal member 40; and provide a brace bar 54 extending diagonally but in the plane common to the axle member 31, forward member 35 and longitudinal member ltl, this bar 54 having its one end secured to the latter at juncture 55 located intermediate the ends of longitudinal member 40 and preferably near the zone of juncture 45, and its other end secured to the forward member 35 at juncture 56 preferably located intermediate juncture 36 of major portion 39 and the bend 57 between major and minor portions 39 and 37. Thus the tension member 47, when connected to the motorcycle frame, acts, together with the strut member 50, in sustaining the longitudinal member 40 against forces coming upon it through the transverse strut member 44.

The axle member 31 conveniently supports the rear end portions of parallel, spaced longitudinal rails 58 and 59, while the forward ends of these rails are supported by the brace 54 and the forward tubular member 35, respectively. Upon these rails may be mounted any suitable side car body, not shown in the drawings, but which may be of the passenger, or van type, or they may support an advertising sign or other medium.

I also prefer to provide a shallow V-shaped truss rod 60 extending longitudinally beneath the axle member 31, with its one end portion secured, as by weld 62, to the member 31 adjacent the wheel mount 32, and its other end portion secured, as by weld 63 to the member 31 adjacent the plate 34, there being a vertical strut 64 between the valley portion 65 of the truss rod and the axle member 31, this strut 64 being secured in place by lower and upper welds 66 and 67. This truss arrangement aids in sustaining the load coming upon the axle member 31. As shown in Figs. and 6, it extends little further below the horizontal plane in which the various members 31, 35, 40 and 54 lie than does the tension member 47.

As :shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the plate 34 may be provided with a hole 68 at its lower portion for the reception of bolt 25, and two holes 69 at its upper portion, above the juncture of the axle member 31 with the plate, for the accommodation of the legs 70 of a U-bolt 71, which embraces the rear fork section 19, nuts 72 on the legs 70 being turned tight to secure the plate 34 to fork section 19, while the bolt also secures the plate to the chain stay bar section 16.

The attaching plate 38 is provided with transverse openings 73 for the reception of the bolts 14 and is held in firm engagement with the plane 13 of engine mount bracket 12 by nuts 74. The clamp plate 46 is provided with transverse openings 75for the reception ofthe legs 76 of an ordinary U-bolt, of the type shown at 71 in Fig. 7, this bolt embracing the rear idrop bar section 18 ator adjacent the juncture of the rear fork section 19 therewith, nuts 77 being provided on the legs 76 in the usual manner. The clamp plate 49 likewise is provided with transverse openings 78 for the reception of the legs 79 of an ordinary U-bolt which embraces the chain stay bar section 16 near its juncture 22 with the lower reach bar 15, nuts 80 being provided on the legs 79 in the usual manner. I n V While the element 44 is herein referred to as a strut member, it functions as such during straight ahead travel of the motorcycle and when the latter is turning to the right. The element 44 functions as a tension member when the motorcycle is turning to the left. Likewise the element 47 is herein referred to as a tension member, because in normal straight ahead travel of the motorcycle and turning of the latter to. the right, it functions as a tension member, but becomes a strut when the motorcycle is turning to the left. The element 47, together with the strut 50 functions as a truss for the longitudinal member 49, since the ends of element 47 are connected to the motorcycle and to the axle member 31 adjacent to the wheel mount portion 32, and the strut 50. is interposed between elements 40 and 47.

The compactness of the side frame is evident from an inspection of Figs. 5. and 6. The main structural mem bers 31, and are in the same horizontal plane and r the members 44 and 47' are so. disposed with respect to the plane common to members. 31, 35 and 4t) that several of the frames may be supported by a ceiling hook, or a Wall bracket engaging in the zone of meeting of the members 35 and 47 that they are compactly arranged somewhat in'fan fashion,.or several of the frames may be stored with the attaching plates 34 and 46 resting on a floor and the dead axle 33. against a wall with a portion of one. frame overlapping a portion of the next adjacent frame.

I claim:

1. The combination with a motorcycle body frame of the type comprising a forward drop bar section provided with an engine mount bracket secured thereto and including a rear-wardly extending upright plate lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the body frame of the motorcycle, a lower reach bar section extending from the lower portion of said forward drop bar section, a chain stay bar section extending from the rear portion of said lower reach bar section, a rear drop bar section, and a rear fork section joined at its upper end to said rear drop bar section and at its lower end to the rear end of said chain stay bar section in acuteangular relation thereto, forming a rear apex portion at a side of the motorcycle body frame; of a side car body frame comprising a main "1 transverse axle member provided with a wheel mount portion at its one end, means securing the other end portion of said axle member to said chain stay and rear fork sections, adjacent said apex portion of the motorcycle body frame, with the axle member extending laterally and horizontally therefrom, a forward member extending diagonally from adjacent the wheel mount portion of said axle member, forwardly to said engine mount bracket plate, means connecting said forward member to said plate, a longitudinal member having its end portion joined to said axle and forward members, intermediate their ends, a transverse strut member connected at its one end to said longitudinal member intermediate its ends and extending upwardly and diagonally to said rear drop bar section, means securing the upper end portion of said strut member to said rear drop bar section, a transverse tension member having one end portion connected to said axle member adjacent to said wheel mount portion and extending downwardly and diagonally to said chain stay bar section, and means securing said transverse tension member to said chain stay bar section.

2. The combination as specified in claim 1 in which said transverse axle member, forward member and longitudinal member are in substantially the same horizontal plane.

3. The combination as specified in claim 2 in which a diagonal brace bar is connected at one end to said longitudinal member adjacent the zone of connection of said diagonal strut therewith and at its other end connected with an intermediate portion of said forward member.

4. The combination as specified in claim 1 in which said transverse tensionmember is connected to said longitudinal member by a vertical strut member.

5. The combination as specified in claim 1 in which References Cited in the file of this patent said main transverse axle member is provided with a I- UNITED STATES PATENTS shaped truss rod, extending longltudmally beneath said 1 5 hr b member with its one end portion secured thereto adjacent 3 53 Ge 6 1913 to said Wheel mount portion, and the other end portion 5 8 Hastmgs 1921 secured adjacent the said means connecting the main FOREIGN PATENTS axle member to the motorcycle frame, and a strutdbe- 16592 Great Britain of 1913 tween the valley portion of said truss rod and the un er- 22907 Great Britain of 1912 side of said main transverse axle member. 

